Graduation Season

Today on Youtube I'm on a roll watching Harvard speeches. Listening to graduation speeches are not only made for the momentous send off but for many relevant moments in life when you need inspiration fuel for life's mileage.

Commencement remarks can either range from poignant messages or a lackluster address laden with standard cliches. Here are a few keynote speeches made by celebrities that hit home for me:

"Sometimes, your insecurities and your inexperience may lead you, too, to embrace other people's expectations, standards or values"

Attending Harvard with the intention of being taken seriously Natalie Portman recalled how she had to constantly prove herself worthy of the intellectual rigor of Harvard by taking intensive courses to counter her feeling insecurity; of not being smart enough or to be dismissed as another dumb actress alongside her Ivy League peers. What made a mark in her speech is how she urged the youth to utilize their naivete as their best asset to take risks in order to forge their own path, clumsy it may be.

"The answer to a lot of you life's questions is often in someone else's face" 

Amy Poehler imparted a lesson on humility and teamwork by noting how most of our achievement in life is done so with the help of others. No one makes it far in life without meaningful collaborations be it on sundry projects or simply surrounding yourself with people who uplift you. Truly, there is nothing like having somebody to hold your hand when you're scared to take risks, to commiserate with you in your failures or celebrate in your triumphs. 

"I'm afraid a couple of you are probably evil. That's just the odds."

Comedian and writer Mindy Kaling is probably the most unlikely person you have in mind relishing advice before an elite set of graduates from Harvard Law School. Acknowledging her lack of in-depth knowledge of the law whatsoever Mindy pokes fun at only knowing the law by 'loving to sue' and how the graduates may help her sort out the details of her pre-nup and divorce proceedings in the future. Although it was mostly a stream of jokes and hilarious quotes from Mindy she mentioned the law's significance by touching base on her parent's immigration to the U.S and for many other movements to be done on the rights of immigrants. 

Film Review: The Age of Adaline

Having a penchant for nostalgia I knew I just had to watch the movie when I first viewed its trailer. I thoroughly enjoy watching films that have magical realism as its central theme and with that I was intrigued how a plot that delves with the hapless tale of eternal youth would unravel.

The film follows 29 year old Adaline Bowman who figures in a road accident but by some coincidental instances and a few amps of lightning bolts later she lives to 107 years old. 

The film aims to narrate a timeless tale but falls short on delivering a compelling plot. The potential of Adaline traversing through decades would be an interesting point to explore. Blake's sophisticated touch and well mannered portrayal of Adaline made her all the more charming and endearing but somehow her character lacks personality I felt like it could have been developed more given that her character was able to live for almost a century. Certainly her age old wisdom cannot just be deduced to a party game of Trivia Pursuit, a scene where Adaline much to everyone's surprise scores all of the question with ease.  

If there is anything notable and apparent of Adaline going through the motion of each decade it's her impeccable sense of style.  Nevertheless, the movie is just as visually appealing and enthralling as the exquisite costume designs that perfectly captured each era. 

7.5 out of 10 stars

Demi in Manila

We were almost close to missing Demi's concert. The series of unfortunate events began to roll out on the day we were scheduled to fly to Manila which happened to be on the same day of the concert with at least 4 hours interval. Having checked in two hours earlier I didn't encounter any problem on my end except my companion, Sabrina didn't arrive till the check-in counter closed. Waiting at the boarding lounge, morose and anxious about having to fly alone I fretted for my companion missing her flight and having to book another ticket. Alas she came after much convincing from the ground crew to let her through. 

We arrived in Manila at 6 pm because our flight was an hour delayed. With that we happily proceeded to the taxi stand thinking we could just hail a cab and breeze our way through traffic. NOT. The taxi lane had a long and winding wait and we only had 1 hour till showtime. Needless to say we got on a cab and I asked the driver to floor it. We made it to the Arena just in time her opening act began. Lesson learned never fly on the same day you're expected to attend an event.

The arena was filled with frenzied teenagers clamoring and eager for the pop star (count me in!). She belted out tracks from her latest eponymous album and crooned acoustic renditions of throwback hits such as Get Back (the first Demi song I liked circa high school days), Don't Forget/Catch Me. Showing of her vocal prowess she went above and beyond her notes sustaining the crowd's energy evident in the audience's intensified shrieks. 

Demi always brought with her a striking stage presence and a beguiling warmth that made her instantly likable to the audience. Showing candid moments, in between tracks she pointed out to a 5-year old girl in the crowd who was wearing her merchandise shirt gushing to her "Sorry I get easily distracted". She wasn't big on theatrics her production didn't have over the top pyrotechnics, stunts or added frills proving gimmickry as unnecessary. Demi's set composed only of 2 back-up singers, a 4-man band and featuring her powerful voice, no more no less. With Demi's infectious energy and amazing vocals it was everything I hoped for and more. 

Like most of her concerts Demi asked us to turn our flashlights on and hold our phones up as she introduced her R&B ballad My Love is Like a Star. 

Demi segued to each track clocking in at 9:40 pm speeding through the whole 75 minutes. That would have been the shortest concert I have attended, from what I heard from avid concert goers concerts usually stretch on for 2 hours but I guess that's just how Demi's set list goes. Nevertheless taking all the fuss to see Demi Lovato in concert in order to finally cross my bucket list is a great fulfillment itself. In one of her ad lib Demi said she never expected this side of the world to enjoy her music, I too never expected to be at the same venue watching her perform. 

To this day whenever I listen to her songs I still could not believe seeing and listening to her live. She sounds amazing as she is on record. And so I thank you Demi for giving me an experience of a lifetime.

Photo credits to Sab